Five Aces Breeding LLC

This page reports the experiences of the researchers and producers for the various crops at different production windows.

Summer and Fall Raspberry Production in Garrett Co.

Yield and fruit size were very good. Production started in late August on primocanes for most mid season varieties. Earlier production was possible with earlier varieties (Jaclyn) and earlier application of the tunnel plastic (applied early August).  Per acre yields of 10000 lbs/acre were obtained with JRep selection and fruit size was consistantly > 4 g/fruit.  Disease pressure was slight (no fungicides used), Leafhopper (Malathion) was an early summer problem and Tarnished Plant Bug visited ripe fruit (no sprays applied). Fruit price ranged from $2.25 per pound (frozen) to $5.00 per pound (fresh-small grocery store and farmer's market).

Fall Winter Production of Raspberries on the Eastern Shore

One quarter pound of fruit per plant (1400 lbs/acre) was obtained, mostly in November and early December in unheated tunnels.  This was lower than expected, perhaps because the potted plants were less vigorous than hoped. The plants went into dormancy and are being chilled, with the low chill variety to be brought in the tunnel in early February and the high chill variety to be similarly "forced" in early March. 

Summer and Fall Strawberry Production in Garrett Co.

This year (2010) yields were low due to weather. Seascape plants were planted for 2011 yield trials. Allan Lilly, a neighbor on Neigh Harvey Hill (a section of Backbone Mountain), planted several varieties in a vertical system using flexible black clothe "sausages" (see production scheme page picture).  'San Andreas' gave 40 gram fruit, while production and fruit size was lower on 'Seascape', 'EV-2', 'Albion' and several other varieties.

Winter Strawberry Production at the Wye (Eastern Shore of Maryland)

'Festival' strawberry plants supplied from the cool mountains were only sporatically flowering later than hoped.  Dr. Fumiomi Takeda of the USDA-Kearneysville, had a similar planting at the same site with 3 weeks earlier fruiting with 'Festival' plants he had treated.  'Dover' plants from Garrett County had ripe fruit, but it was smaller and plants were much less vigorous.

Winter Blueberry Production at the Wye

'Paloma' ultra lo-chill blueberry (available from Hartmann's Plant Company, Lacota Michigan) was chosen to produce fall flowers, which it did sparingly at the tips of shoots. The flowers were mostly lost in transport, but should have produced fruit in November or early December. Two shipments of plants were sent from the Garrett Co. Nursery, the early (September 15) shipment did not get much chilling and is partially dormant at the Wye as of mid December; the later shipment with chilling is flowering profusely (see picture on production scheme page).  Bumble bees have been placed in the tunnel and flowers show no frost damage.  The tunnel was constructed with insulated end walls and has an earthtube and movable floating row cover "drapes" over the rows. It has been, and is forecast to be, a very cold winter.